Bert Lightle
My name is Bert Lightle; I grew up in the Kansas City Metro area and have lived here pretty much my entire life. I have three kids: 2 daughters, 16 and 4, and a son, 1 ½. I served in the Army/National Guard from 2001 to 2009 and was a member of the 205th Area Support Medical Battalion, deployed with 3rd MedCom and 3d Area Support Medical Battalion (2002-2003). I also trained amateur and professional Mixed Martial Artists from 2006 to 2013. Present-day I am a Brewer/Distiller and Entrepreneur.
During my time in service, I was a founding member (Communications NCO) of the 3rd ASMB, the first medical unit to be created and stood up in a combat zone during wartime. I received the Army Achievement Medal, and Army Commendation Medal was a battalion-level instructor, and taught hand-to-hand combat, counter IED, and other training courses. As an MMA trainer and coach, I cornered/coached over 100 fights and produced five champions and ten championship contenders.
MVP has helped me by having a group of peers that understand the team mentality and post-deployment/post-service life struggles. It has helped my confidence and has helped me realize my individuality and identity as a person. I have spent over a decade outside of the service trying to figure out who I am and where I fit into “normal” society. I know I have a family that understands my struggles and can relate and offers advice and support applicable to my life. That’s something that I’ve never had outside of the military. MVP has filled a large hole in my life.
I have struggled with anxiety and depression as I’ve tried to be a “normal” human being. Through MVP, I have come to realize that I am far from “normal,” and that’s not only okay, but that’s what sets me apart from the pack. I have embraced my personal struggles and now use them to help empower and embolden myself to face the future and recover from my past.
MVP has been nothing short of life-saving. The past year has been the most challenging chapter of my life. After what felt like a year of setbacks and beatdowns, I struggled with severe depression and thoughts of suicide. MVP helped me verbalize my struggles, seek refuge in my peers, and reestablish my confidence and sense of self-worth.
I look forward to the most at MVP: connecting with so many other dynamic individuals and growing relationships through listening to others’ stories and having candid, thoughtful discussions on all aspects of life; the wins, losses, struggles, and joys. The weekly sessions are my chance to both plug into others and unplug from myself. I can put my thoughts and feelings out there in a safe, judgment-free space while supporting others that do the same. I feel like I have found a place in the veteran community where I belong. I feel at home. Having the ability to connect with athletes, I have come to realize the similarities to military service and the many unique commonalities we all share as members of a team, trying to find some normalcy in a world where we are not “normal.”
MVP is hands down one of the most ground-breaking and impactful groups I have ever been a part of. I can’t recommend them enough to both veterans and athletes.